Unhairing-machine.



No. 818,971. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. A. LA MARCHE & A. HEDBAVNY.

UNHAIRING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

QJQOQQQQQSQGQQQQ No. 818,971. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. A. LA MAROHE & A. HEDBAVNY. UNHAIRING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 21, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 818,971. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. A. LA MARGHE & A. HEDBAVNY.

UNHAIRING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.Z1,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

S' UQ/VI/bO CS UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ARTHUR LA MAROHE, OF WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, AND ANTON HEDBAVNY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UNHAlRlNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed August 21, 1905. Serial No. 275,100.

To all whom it puny concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR LA MARonE, a resident of West Hoboken, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, and ANTON I'IEDBAVNY, a resident of New York city, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Unl1airing-\Iachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 a plan view, and Figs. 3 and 4 end elevations, of the unhairing-machine constructed according to our invention. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the parts of the machine in the position when the brushing operation is completed and immediately before the operation whereby the water-hairs are removed. Fig. 6 is a fractional sectional view, same as Fig. 5, but showing the parts of the machine in position to which they recede after the cutting operation and before the brushing operation is begun. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the brush-frame and of the means for adjusting it and holding it in adjusted position. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view showing the protective slides and the method of mounting them on the frame. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of a part of the feed mechanism, and Fig. 10 an enlarged detail of the mechanism for disengaging the movable shear.

Our invention relates to machines for removing the so-called water-hairs from furskins; and it consists of the hereinafter more fully described parts of such machine and of the combinations of parts in a machine of that kind.

The machine comprises a stationary and a movable frame, whereon the various operating parts are mounted. The stationary frame consists of side plates 11 and ties 12, joining them together. In this frame is mounted in suitable bearings the main driving-shaft 13. whereon pulleys 1-1 and 14 one keyed to the shaft and the other set loose thereon-are set. By means of a belt these pulleys and shaft 13 may be driven from any power transmission and all movable parts of the machine actuated, except the cylindrical brush 15, which is rotated independently by other suitable means. Brush the bearing-box supported in frames 17 by set screws 18, that permit lateral and vertical adjustment of the position of, the' brush. Its bristles are arranged in sections winding spirally around the shaft. Its function is to comb the fur and hairs into a parallel posiedge of bar 48 and to make a parting where the fur-skin is bent over the edge of this bar.

On the top of side plates 11 a stationary shear-blade 19 is aflixed to bar 100, which is and is secured in its adjusted positionby bolts 21. The other shear-blade 23 is adjustably affixed by means of bolts 2 to frame 32, fitted into slideways 241, the latter being se cured to the tops of side plates 11 by bolts 25. Frame 32 is slowly receded and then forcibly projected forward against the stationary blade 19 by a mechanism constructed as fol lows: Approximately midway between the driving-shaft 13 and the shears a rock-shaft 26 is pillowed in side plates 11, and to this rock-shaft arms 27 are secured by set-screws 23. The other ends'of these arms are pivotallyconnect-ed by links 29 and pins 30 and 31, respectively, to the sliding frame 32, towhich the movable shear-blade 231s secured, as explained above. Arm 33, secured to the rockshaft 26 by set-screws 34, extends beyond the drivin -shaft 13 and carriesnear its end a pin 33, with an antifriction-roller set thereon. Cam 35 is set on driving-shaft 13 in position to engage the antifriction-roller on pin 33, and spring 37, connected on one end with the arm 33 and on the other with the tie 12, presses the roller against the cam. Cam 35 is adjustable on shaft 13 and is secured thereto in adjusted position by set-screw 36. By this device the cam is set to effect the forward motion of the movable shear-blade when the parts of the machine reach the position shown in Fig. 5. The shape of the cam is shown there. The drivingshaft 13 rotates from right to left. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5 the antifriction-roller, set on pin 35, is then at the lnghest point of the cam immediately preceding the recess. In that position the sliding frame supporting the shear is withdrawn to the limit of itsmotion. At the next instant the pin 33 drops 15 is mounted in adjustable bearings 16 and tion approximately at right angles to the laterally adjustable by means of screws 20 The movable frame of the machine consistsof side plates 39, joined together by ties 40. The shape of the side plates 39 of the movable frame isshown in Fig. 5. This frame is movably supported on posts 41, oscillating on tie 12 and pivotally connected to the side plates 39 by bolts 42. The movable frame is further supported on rods 43 of the eccentrics 44, that are set on the main shaft 13.

' These eccentrics impart an oscillating reciprocating motion to the movable frame. Rods 43 are connected one to each side plate 39 of the movable frame by bolts-45, that terminate into pins 45", projecting from the side plates 39 toward the side plates 11 of the main frame and engage in curved slots 47,

Y sliding therein to and fro as the movable frame is rocked, thereby guiding its motion as the operations of the machine require.

On the forward projecting end of the movable frame a straight-edged flat bar 48 is set, extending the entire width of the frame. The shape of this bar is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 7. Bar 48 is affixed to the movable frame by screws 56, resting on flanges 102, provided for that purpose, by deflecting the upper edges of the side plates 39 of the rnovable frame at those points.

The rear ends of plates 39 are slotted, and in the slots are set the bearin s of roller 49. At the ends of slots 52 of the side plates 39 a boss 53 is provided and screw-threaded bores made through the bosses in alinement with the slot 52. In each of these bores a setscrew 54 is set, by means of which the bearings of roller 49 are forced outwardly to stretch the endless apron 51 and to set it even.

Another roller is rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the movable frame. This roller 50 is the feed-roller and is provided with pins set in irregular rows to engage with the endless apron 51, that is wrapped around feed-roller 50, stretch-roller 49, and the bar 48.

A small guide-roller is mounted on the movable frame in proximity of the bar 48 and in position to cause the endless apron 51 to pass toward the edge of the stretcher-bar in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the bar 48.

Adjoining flanges 102 the side plates 39 of screw-threaded pins project. are set rigidly in bracket 59, and spiral the movable frame are extended into lugs 57, wherein a stay-bolt 58, extending the whole width of the machine, is set. On this staybolt are movably mounted brackets 59 and are secured thereto in adjusted position by set-screw 60. On these brackets the brushframe 61 is mounted by means of slotted slides 62 and set screw 63. Slides 62 are bent at right angles. The bent ends 64, depending rearwardly and downwardly, are provided with smooth bores, through which These pins springs are set therein between these brackets and the downwardly-depending ends of slides 62. Screw-nuts 67, set on screws 65, serve for the lateral adjustment of the brushframe 61 and of course also of brush 68, secured therein. By these means the brush 68 may be set in a osition at a more or less acute angle with t ebar 48 and nearer to or.

farther'away from the edge thereof, as required, for unhairing different kinds of skins. To set brush 68 nearer to or farther away from the edge of bar 48, set-screws 63 are loosened, and then by turning screw-nuts 67 in the requisite direction slides 62 are shifted relatively to brackets 59, whereby the brush is moved nearer to or farther away from the edge of the stretcher-bar. When the brush has been thus withdrawn from or moved nearer to the edge of the stretcher-bar, the set-screws 63 are tightened. Then if it is required to set the brush 68 at a more or less acute angle to the bar 48 set-screws 60 are loosened, and. by turning brackets 59 on the stay-bolt 58 toward or away from bar 48 the brush 68' is set as required, and then setscrews 60 are tightened again, thus securing the brush in that position. This peculiar adjustabilityof this brush 68 is of great importance in this kind of machines in that it enables to vary the action of the brush upon the fur-skin, according to the peculiarities thereof. The fur-hairs and water-hairs of fur skins vary in stiffness or tendency to maintain their natural position relatively to the skin. The function of this brush 68 is to retain the hairs of the-fur close to and nearly parallel with the skin, but not to prevent the stiffer or harder water-hairs to assume their natural or standing-out position approximately at right angles to the skin, whereby they become separated from the fibers of the fur by the abrupt bending of the fur-skin across the edge of the bar 48. the bristles of the brush 68 must act on different skins at a more or less acute angle and with the point of the bristles nearer to, or farther away from the edge of bar 48 according to the nature of the fur-skin subjected to the operation of the machine. Therefore an unhairing-machine provided with the mechanism enabling this brush 68 to be set at a more To effect this,-

IIC

or less acute angle to this bar and closer or farther away from it is capable of use for unhairing of different kinds of fur-skins for which otherwise different machines would be required.

The fur-skin to be unhaired is fastened to the endless apron 51 immediately in front of roller 55 and by the feeding mechanism drawing the apron in the direction indicated by the arrows in F ig. 5 is drawn underneath the roller 55 and over bar 48 toward the edge thereof, where the unhairing operation takes place. This feeding mechanism is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 9. Its construction is as follows: On the axle of the feed-roller 50 is saddled a frame composed of two parallel bars (see Fig. 3,) joined by stay-bolt 78 on one end and by stud on the other end. Cog-wheel 71, set between bars 70, is keyed to the axle, whereas the latter are set loosely thereon. Pinion 73, meshing with cog-wheel 71, and ratchet-wheel 74, are set on stud 75, free to rotate thereon. They may be integral or secured together. Block 84 (see Fig. 9) is secured to the driving-shaft 13. This block is slotted and recessed, and plate 83 is snugly fitted in the recess. Block 84 rotates with shaft 13, and thus acts as a crank, and pin 82, set in plate 83, entering it through the slot in block 84, acts as a crank-pin for link 81, pivoted thereon. The other end of link 81 is pivoted to rack-rod 76, hung on stud 75.

Thus as the block 84 rotates with the drivingshaft 13 rack-rod 76 obtains a reciprocating motion, the extent whereof is governed by the position of plate 83 in the block 84. Ratchet 77 is hung on rack-rod 76 by pivot 79, its rear end overbalancing its front end and holding it constantly in engagement with ratchet-wheel 74, and thus by the rocking motions of rack-rod 76 the feed mechanism is actuated, the ratchet 77 sliding on the ratchet wheel 74 when the rack-rod 76 swings to the right (see Fig. 3 and p ushing the ratchet-wheel when rod 76 swings toward the left. Ratchet wheel 7 4 is thereby turned on stud 75, and with it the pinion 73, meshing with cog-wheel 71, keyed to the axle of the feed-roll. The extent of the feed motion is adjusted by setting plate 83 in the block 84, whereby pin 82 is brought nearer to or farther from the center of shaft 13. The farther pin 82 is brought from the center of shaft 13 the smaller in extent will be the motion of the rack-rod 76 and ratchet 77 and ratchet-wheel 74. The mo tion of the feed-roll 50 is transmitted,by means of prongs setupon this feed-roll, (see Fig. 5,) to the endless apron 51 which is thereby drawn a corresponding distance in the direction indi cated by an arrow in Fig. 5. The pelt subjected to the operation of the machine being fastened to the endless apron is thereby moved an equal distance toward and over the edge of bar 48. The motions of the mechanism are so timed that the forward motion feeding the pelt occurs always after the cutting operation of the shears is completed and before the swing of the movable frame brings the pelt in contact with the rotary brush.

T 0 enable the operator to stop the cutting operation at any time during the running of the machine or when the machine is being reset, a mechanism is provided constructed as follows: On the outside of the right-hand side plate 11 (see Fig. 4) of the main frame an arm 87 is rigidly secured by setscrew 88 to the rock-shaft 26. In this arm pin 89 is set. Alever provided with suitable handle 91 is fulciunicd on a stud 92, set in the side plate 11. The other end of lever 90 is provided with a cam-shaped hook 93. (See Fig. 10.) N011) ally the lever 90 is in the position shown in 4, and then hook 93 stands clear of pin 89. By depressing the handle 91 hook 93 is moved upwardly and catches pin 89, which then sliles along the can1-shaped inner face of the hook 93, and thereby moves arm 87 and rock-shaft 26 to turn from left to right and finally locks it in that position. By this motion arm 33 is swung in the same direc tion as the movable frame 32, supporting the movable shear-blade 23, is withdrawn, and the antifiiction-roller, set on pin 33, is moved out of engagement with cam 35. As long as lever 90 remains in this position the movable shear-bladc 23 stands still in its withdrawn position and no cutting operation is performed.

The skins of some animals, particularly those of seal, have holes where the flippers of the animal were cut off, and it is impossible to stretch a skin in the unhairing process so that the cutting devices when removing the water-hairs would not cut holes in the skin around the edges of these holes. To avoid this, we employ in our machine irovable shields 97. (See Fig. 8.) They are in the form of slotted plates set underneath the stationary shear-blade 19 and are held thereto by screw-threaded blocks 98, (or washers and screwnuts,) set on screws 99, whereby the shear-blade ,19 is secured to the suppotingbar 100. These sliding shields are set in the positions where the holes in the skin occur. They are manipulated by handles 101 and are pushed forwardly when the part of the skin containing the holes reaches the edge of the stretcher-bar. hen thus pushed forwardly, the forward edges of the n'ovable shields extend some distance beyond the cutting edge of the shear-blade 19, and when the movable 'lraire rises to the position shown in Fig. 5 the part of the fLL-Sliill around the edges of the holes is pressed against these shields, and thus protected against the action of the shca1ing-blade, that removes the watcr-hairs on the exposed parts of the skin between the shields, but not on the parts covered by them.

The the machine operates automatically.

ITO

the bar 48.

When started, the fur skin is fixed to the endless apron 51 approximately in the position shown in Fig. 5, the brush having been properly adjusted according tothe requirements of the particular kind of skin to be unhaired and the rotary brush 15 set in position to come in contact with the edge of bar 48 (or the fur-skin exposed thereon) during the swing of the movable frame from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 5.

The motion of the movable frame is so designed that the brush 15 acts upon the strip of fur-skin on the edge of bar 48 approximately at the level of its bearings. By this action the fur and hair of the fur-skin are combed, straightened out, and disengaged from each other, and as the motion of the movable frame proceeds upwardly the relative position of the bar 48 and of the brush is changed, so that the rotary brushing action is continued in the direction from the edge toward the bottom side of the bar 48. During the interval from the moment when the furskin passes out of contact with brush 15 and before the movable frame comes in the position shown in Fig. 5 the water-hairs being stiffer and harder than the fibers of the fur spring up, resuming their natural position, while the softer fibers of the fur remain in the position into which they were brought by the action of the brushthat is, in a position defiected away from the edge of the bar 48. The water-hairs standing up project against and above the cutting edge of the stationary shear-blade 19. Then the movable shearblade 23 is forcibly projected against the sta tionary shear-blade 19, as explained above, and the water-hairs are cut off. 1

In this machine the stationary shear-blade 19 serves also as means for protecting the fur on the upper side of the stretcher-bar from the action of the shears. The fur and waterhairs of the part of fur-skin lying on that side or bar 48 are held in their position away from the edge of bar 48 by the brush 68. When the movable frame reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, the fur-skin is pressed against the stationary blade 19, its edge be ing in alinement and closely to the edge of Thereby the fibers of the fur and the water-hairs are firmly pressed between bar 48 and the stationary blade 19 and every possibility of their damage by the shears is precluded.

After the cutting operation is completed the movable frame descends again in the same path as it ascended, During this motion rotary brush 15 is again brought in contact with the fur-skin which is then being fed, and the brush by its rotary motion in the same I direction as the pelt is being fed produces a brushing action, whereby the newly-fed strip of fur is combed and the water-hairs and fur fibers separated as the feeding action progresses. This brushing action is re eated on the return motion of the frame to t e shears, and by these means as good result is obtained as if two brushes be used and the forming of loops of the wool fibers prevented.

The operation of the machine is very rapid and the water-hairs speedily and cleanly removed from the fur closely to the skin.

We claim as our invention 1. An unhairing machine, comprising a stationary main frame, a rotary brush, a stationary and a movable shear-blade, a rockshaft and a driving-shaft in the stationary, main frame; a cam set on the driving-shaft, an arm secured to the rock-shaft and connected to the movable shear-blade, a second arm secured to the same rock-shaft and a pin set in the arm in position to engage with the cam set on the driving-sh aft, means for pressing the arm against the cam, posts pivoted to the main frame, a frame pivoted to the posts; eccentrics set on the driving-shaft, and rods connecting the eccentrics with. the frame; a keen-edged bar; means for stretching and means for intermittently feeding a skin toward the edge of the bar, a brush-frame adjustably secured to the movable frame and means for securing it in adjusted position, a brush secured to the brush-frame, guide-slots in the stationary main frame and pins set in the movable frame and engaging in the guideslots, and means for rotat ng the drivingshaft.

2. An unhairing-machine, comprising a stationary main frame, a rotary brush, a stationary and a movable shear-blade, a rockshaft and a driving-shaft in the stationary main frame; a cam set on the driving-shaft, an arm secured 'to the rock-shaft and connected to the movable shear-blade, a second arm secured to the same rock-shaft and a pin set in the arm in position to engage with the cam set on the driving-shaft, means forpressing the arm against the cam; posts pivoted to the main frame, a frame pivoted to the posts; eccentrics set on the driving-shaft, and rods connecting the eccentrics with the frame; a keen-edged bar, a feed-roll and a stretch-roll, mounted in the frame, an endless apron stretched over the bar and over the feed and stretch rolls and means for propelling the endless apron over the edge of the bar; a brush-frame adjustably secured to the movable frame and means for securing it in ad justed position, a brush secured to the brushframe, guide slots in the stationary main frame and pins set in the movable frame and engaging in the guide-slots, and means for rotating the driving-shaft.

3. The combination with an unhairingmachine substantially as herein shown and described, of means for arresting the motion of the movable blade, comprising a movable blade an arm secured to the rock-shaft moving the blade, a pin set in the arm a lever pivoted to the frame, a cam-shaped hook on one end of the lever and means for moving the lever to engage the pin set in the arm.

4. The combination with an unhairing-mzn chine substantially as herein shown and described of means for intermittently feeding the fur-skin to be unhaired, comprising a frame, rolls set in the frame, one of the rolls being provided with prongs an endless apron drawn over the rolls; means for stretching the apron; a cog-wheel and a frame set on the axle of the roll provided with prongs; a bar set to revolve on the axle of the feed-roll; a stud set in the fi ame; a pinion, meshing with the cog-wheel, a ratchet-wheel and a rackrod set on the stud; a slotted block secured to the driving-shaft ol' the machine, a plate set in the block; a crank-pin set in the plate, and a link pivotally connecting the rack-rod with the cranlepin.

5. A combination with an unhairing-ma chine, substantially as herein shown and described, of means for protecting the fur-skin around the edges of holes, comprising asta tionary blade, a shield, means lormovablyaffixing the shield to the stationary shear-blade and means for shifting in and withdrawing the shield.

ARTHUR LA MARCHE. ANTON HEDBAVNY. Vitnesses:

WiLLIAM S. DAVIDSON, MARY C. DAVIDSON. 

